St.

Catherine of Sienna

Born: Died:
Venerated in: Canonized:

Feast day: patronage:

St. Catherine of Siena was born during the outbreak of the plague in Siena, Italy on March 25,
1347. She was the 25th child born to her mother, although half of her brothers and sisters did not
survive childhood. Catherine herself was a twin, but her sister did not survive infancy. Her
mother was 40 when she was born. Her father was a cloth dyer. At the age of 16, Catherine's
sister, Bonaventura, died, leaving her husband as a widower. Catherine's parents proposed that
he marry Catherine as a replacement, but Catherine opposed this. She began fasting and cut her
hair short to mar her appearance. Her parents attempted to resist this move, to avoid marriage,
but they were unsuccessful. Her fasting and her devotion to her family, convinced them to relent
and allow her to live as she pleased.